Whilst this demographic is undoubtedly indicative of the everyday snorer, there are other groups that can snore with the best of them.
Nearly 6% of all children snore and almost half of the snoring population is composed of women.
Before we delve into the possible treatments in support of this ailment, it is important to fully understand what causes some folks to snore and how are they able to make kind of noises that would startle a herd of wildebeest into a stampede.
What is Snoring?
As we breathe naturally during the day, or at whenever when we are awake, the airways in our mouth, throat and nasal areas are normally clear of any obstructions. This enables the air to move in and out without restraint, resulting in a feint, unobtrusive wafting sound.
However, when we are asleep the tissues that surround these areas become relaxed. This leads to a narrowing of the airways.
Each breath of air then has to become deeper which produces a greater vibration of air against the base of the tongue, back of the throat and the soft pallet. The delightful sound triggered by these vibrations is what we hear as snoring.
The magnitude of this particular sound is made worse by other condition, say for example a cold or a bout of flu, which will increase the obstruction to the airways which in turn intensifies this vibration.
Sleep Apnea
Have you ever watched someone as they snored?
One thing to be aware of while in the company of a snorer is the pattern of the snoring.
Any abnormal breathing sounds could possibly be an indication that they are experiencing a sleeping disorder and that their snoring just isn't merely the result of them carrying additional weight, or simply because they sometimes like to overdo it on the sherry at the end of the evening.
Sleep Apnea or Aponea in the UK, is a common sleeping disorder amongst the snoring fraternity that causes the unlucky snorer to briefly stop breathing. This is not always as alarming as it first sounds. However, it is a condition that should not be ignored.
Apnea, meaning "without breath" comes in three main forms:
- Obstructive
- Central
- Mixed
OSA
OCA or Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a caused by a physical obstruction in the air passages around the throat, mouth and nose. These blockages stall or prevent regular breathing as well as being the main cause for making sounds that in some cases can wake the dead.
CSA
CSA or Central Sleep Apnea happens when the brain stops telling the muscles that control breathing to function properly. This lack of communication causes a temporary shut down in breathing.
CSA is a consequence of neurological issues as opposed to physical obstructions to breathing whilst asleep.
Mixed or Complex Sleep Apnea
If you are really unlucky, you may be suffering from a mixture of both these ailments. Even though this is the most uncommon of all three conditions, patients of Mixed Sleep Apnea usually end up getting Central Apnea after having first developed Obstructive Apnea.
Symptoms of Apnea
If you regularly find yourself stumbling out of bed each morning with a dry throat, then the chances are that you've been imitating the noise of the frustrated gorilla who is annoyed with his latest haircut.
To get an indication if your snoring is Apnea related, then you should make note of any of the following conditions that may apply to you:
- Unusual breathing
- Very loud snoring noises
- Hypersomnia. This is a condition where the snorer is affected with unusual exhaustion during the day
- Signs of Depression
- Having sleep interrupted by shortages of breath
More Bad News
As an Apnea sufferer, there's every chance that you will be carrying around far more than your fair share of medical baggage that may include the following:
- Increased weight gain leading to obesity
- Memory loss
- Hypertension
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Irritability
The Apnea, whether Obstructive or Central is either causing these conditions or is a result of a number of them.
What ever the reasons, it is vital to seek medical advice before taking any plan of action to find a remedy for your snoring. If you need to read on about how to stop snoring then you can find out more at